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State of Contentment

When we moved to Brookwood Court, I had this pretty vision of how I wanted my daily life to be – the early morning coffee in my bedroom reading nook, walking the pups along the ponds, writing or working in the sunny corner of my upstairs office. Afternoons chores and errands, followed by reading in the living room with a cup of tea, or curling up in the cozy library corner of the basement when the weather was cold and gray. Preparing meals in my large, bright kitchen, with some Chopin, Debussy, or Secret Garden playing softly in the background.

Well, guess what?

My vision came true.

That doesn’t often happen in life, does it?

Real life rarely looks like what we picture in our minds. And even when life mirrors imagination, sometimes it doesn’t turn out to be as fulfilling as we had hoped.

But a good number of my days play out exactly as I imagined they would, and they feel as right as I had hoped. I have such an overwhelming sense of contentment here, a feeling of being in exactly the right place at the right time. The restlessness that plagued me for the past few years is gone.

I feel at home.

If you know me, either “virtually,” or in real life (or both!) you know how much of a homebody I am. Sometimes I love my home too much, want to cocoon myself safely away from the rest of the world which seems more and more cacophonous and intrusive. I don’t fight it anymore, but simply indulge myself in the need to nest, trusting the instincts that tell me to say home, be quiet, revel in the stillness.

The real world constantly urges our participation, invites us to expect big things, exhorts us to make something happen.

We’re forever being nudged to the next big thing.

Right now I’m just letting contentment happen, and for me that’s something big.

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8 thoughts on “State of Contentment”

I can relate. I love being home. I think that’s why I’m enjoying retirement so much. No more hurrying about to get out the door for work, just leisurely breakfasts with my husband in the morning, our 12 trivia questions after (we’ve been doing this for about 5 years now) and then I get in my recliner with the Chicago Tribune and finish my coffee. Aw, peace and quiet and total immersion in my paper. I love it.
So much of what you write mirrors my feelings and emotions exactly. Not sure if it’s because we are related or if our likes and dislikes are so similar.

This sounds wonderful and I do relate to it. I am fortunate to have much contentment in my life, but I surely do want/need a smaller house with a first floor bedroom/laundry, etc. I’m so happy for you, Becca.

I am so glad to hear you have arrived at this point! I knew you would, but it always takes some time. You and I are much alike in that way — we love being home. Sometimes dreams come true, just like you planned. Basking in your joy and contentment!